Election (1999)
First screened in May 1999 / Most recently screened in February 2020
Director: Alexander Payne. Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik, Delaney Driscoll, Molly Hagan, Phil Reeves, Frankie Ingrassia, Matt Malloy, Holmes Osborne, Jeanine Jackson, Colleen Camp, Loren Nelson. Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (from the novel by Tom Perrotta).

Twitter Capsule: Lots to recommend in story and in key performances, especially Campbell's. Imprecise POV on Broderick's lead costs a lot.

VOR:   Lots to chew regarding envy, ambition (especially women's), patriarchy (flailing or ironclad), sexuality, power... Overrated, I think, but valuable.



Photo © 1999 Paramount Pictures/MTV Films

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: B


Academy Award Nominations:
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor

Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Actress (Musical/Comedy): Reese Witherspoon

Other Awards:
Writers Guild of America: Best Adapted Screenplay
Independent Spirit Awards: Best Feature; Best Director; Best Screenplay
New York Film Critics Circle: Best Screenplay
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: New Generation Award (Payne & Taylor)
National Society of Film Critics: Best Actress (Witherspoon)
National Board of Review: Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking

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